Crossover cars offer customers distinct, muscular and SUV-like styling which gives them plenty of road presence. They achieve this even though most are no bigger than your average family hatchback.
However, crossovers are also designed to be driven comfortably on the road, an area which genuine 4x4s often struggle in. At the same time, some crossovers can offer four-wheel drive and deliver at least some off-road driveability, making them incredibly versatile vehicles.
Nowadays new car buyers in Britain are spoilt for choice if they want a crossover model. In this guide we reveal five crossover cars on sale which we strongly recommend.
Nissan Qashqai
The first-generation Nissan Qashqai played a huge part in kick-starting the crossover craze in Britain. The current Qashqai is a very fine example of what can be achieved in this segment.
The Nissan has a roomy five-seater cabin and a boot that’s more spacious than family hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus. You get a decent amount of luxury and safety kit as standard, especially if you go for one of the higher, tech-heavy trim levels.
When it comes to driving the Qashqai the set-up does not prioritise entertainment but more importantly on comfort. The ride is gentle and there's loads of grip on offer whether you go for a front or four-wheel drive powertrain.
The Qashqai excels as a family car and with prices starting comfortably below £20k, it’s also cheaper than a lot of similar-sized rivals. Combining affordability, practicality, safety, efficiency, low running costs and good handling, the Qashqai performs well in all important areas and has no real weaknesses.
Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque has received huge demand from customers around the globe since it first went on sale. The fact this car was endorsed by Victoria Beckham has no doubt lured in fashionistas, but there’s plenty of other reasons to explain this car’s appeal.
Both the exterior and interior designs are distinct and likeable and you get plenty of luxury kit as standard. Available in three and five-door guises and with front or four-wheel drive, the Evoque feels well balanced when driven on road.
Despite its fashion-conscious nature, the Evoque, like every other Land Rover, still boasts excellent off-road abilities, especially the four-wheel drive models. If you’re after a premium crossover which feels smooth and sophisticated on the road, but can also handle rough terrain when required, then the Evoque has got to be on your list of contenders.
Audi Q3
Like the Evoque mentioned above, the Audi Q3 is one of the more premium entries in the crossover segment, contending with the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA-Class, along with Land Rover’s entry.
The Q3 looks tall but there’s barely any body roll when you take this car through the corners at speed. The handling overall is brilliant, and the engine range is diverse. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard but Audi’s incredibly smooth S tronic semi-automatic ‘box is also available. Most models in the Q3 range have quattro four-wheel drive which provides plenty of reassurance when driving in tricky weather.
Interior quality is top notch and family car buyers should find there’s plenty of room for seating up to five and also fitting in the week’s shopping. Comforts like climate control and Bluetooth connectivity are standard.
The Audi Q3 offers pretty much everything you’d hope from a premium crossover. It has a tough-looking appearance but it’s also classy, and the drive and interior can contend with the best family cars on the market.
Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5's pricing range sits somewhere in-between the budget options and premium entries in this segment. In its favour, the CX-5 has the sort of styling that can rival any premium brand. Both the exterior and the inside of this car has a really classy feel to it.
What also appeals about the CX-5 is its frugal powertrain selection. Other strengths of the CX-5 include its sharp, responsive steering, the all-round spacious interior and the wide-array of gadgets you get as standard.
Setting the pricing range higher than rivals like the Qashqai is a risk from Mazda, but if you do have the extra cash to spare, than the CX-5 is certainly worth considering.
Skoda Yeti
If you’re looking for a new crossover, but the more premium-designed entries are too costly for you, then the Skoda Yeti is well worth a closer look. Few cars in its class are as affordable as the Yeti.
The Skoda crossover has a very tall body, which means there’s plenty of headroom for those inside the car. Happily, body roll is kept in check very well when you take the Yeti through corners. The steering is quite artificial but there’s plenty of front-end grip and all-round visibility when driving is great.
Other crossovers may offer a slightly classier design or smoother drive, but the Yeti is still an all-round likeable car because it’s very suitable for family transport and feels well built.